Police have investigated a rape claim against a five-year-old boy in Manchester, it has been revealed.
The child, was accused of assaulting a girl under 13 in Manchester.
He was among thousands of children under 10 accused of committing crimes such as sexual assault, arson and threats to kill since 2014.
New figures have emerged showing 70 sex attacks were allegedly committed by children under the age of 10 in the past year - including 21 rapes recorded by Greater Manchester Police.
None of the accused children can be prosecuted as they are under the age of criminal responsibility.
The figures, obtained by the Daily Star Sunday via a Freedom of Information request, show 4,584 crimes were allegedly committed by children in England and Wales including a two-year-old who was accused of grievous bodily harm.
Data provided by the 32 police forces which responded to the request show children have been investigated for arson, having an article with a blade or point in school, stalking, threats to kill, taking indecent photographs and cannabis possession as well as sexual assault and grievous bodily harm.
But a spokeswoman from the NSPCC warns that these children are likely to be victim of abuse themselves.
